Article recovering implement



L. C. SMITH ARTICLE RECOVER ING IMPLEMENT April 20, 1943.

' Filed Nov. 30, 1942 Patented Apr. 20, 1943 ARTICLE RECOVERINGIMPLEMENT Lester C. Smith, West Hartford, Conn., assignor to The SpencerTurbine Company,

Hartford,

Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application November 30, 1942,Serial. No. 467,463

3 Claims. (Cl. 2949-64) My invention relates to the class of implementsparticularly designed for the removal of articles from inaccessibleplaces by means of suction, and

an object of my invention, among others, is to provide a tool of thistype which 'shall be simple;

in construction and particularly effective in performing the duties forwhich it is intended.

One. form of an implement embodying my invention and in the constructionand use of which the objects herein set out, as well as others, may beattained is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1is a side view of my improved recovering implement.

Figure 2 is a similar view but looking from a point at right angles tothe point of view of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a view in cross section on a plane denoted by the brokenline 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating the valve in itsopen position for creation of suction in the nozzle.

Figure 5 is a view looking in the direction indicated by the arrows inFig. 3, but with the nozzle and hose omitted.

During operations in and about machinery in particular and in otherplaces it frequently happens that articles are dropped and fall intoinaccessible places from which it is a difficult matter to remove themand I have therefore provided the convenient tool forming the subjectmatter of this application for readily removing such articles from thesedifiicult positions, this improved implement being illustrated in thedrawing herein and comprising in general a flat somewhat rectangularlyshaped body with a hub projecting from one side and a support projectingfrom the opposite side thereof. This body comprises two members 6-!secured together as by means of screws 8. The hub 9 is integral with andprojects from the member 5 and the support In is integral with andprojects from the part I. A slideway I I is formed between the members6!, substantially half of this slideway being located in each member.

A slide valve I2 is mounted for sliding movement in said slideway and isprovided with a thumb piece [3 projecting from one end and with stops l4projecting from opposite sides of the other end to contact with the edgeof the body on that side opposite the thumb piece l3. A spring I 5 isinterposed between the thumb piece l3 and the support I0, being steppedupon a spring seat l6, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, and exertingpressure to hold the valve 12 in its closed position. I v

A hole ll extends axially through the hub 9 and also through the supportl0 and a nipple I8 extends from the support l0, said hole also extendingthrough the valve l2 so that when the latter is in its open positionopposite to that shown in Fig. 2 said hole will register with the holesin the hub and support, affording a clear passage through the entireinstrument and communicating with passages in a nozzle 19 andhose 20,said nozzle being composed of rubber or other suitable stiif materialand having an extension 2! possessing a bayonet-shaped slot 22 for thereception of a pin 23 projecting from the wall of the hole in the hub 9.

It will be understood that the hose 2!] is connected with some sourcefor producing vacuum whereby suction is created at; the mouth of thenozzle H] to cause articles to adhere to said nozzle for the purpose ofremoval from inaccessible places.

The body comprising the two members 6'! is cut away to provide a thumbreceiving notch 24 into which the thumb piece l3 together with the thumb25 of the operator passes when the valve is pressed into its openposition opposite to that shown in Figs. 2, 3 and to the position shownin Fig. 4.

In the operation of the tool the body being grasped within the hand ofthe operator the thumb 25 of the operator is placed upon the thumb piecel3 and the latter being pressed upon the valve I2 is moved into aposition opposite to that shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and into the positionshown in Fig. 4, the stops I4 being moved away from the edge of the bodyand the spring l5 being compressed.

As will be seen this arrangement provides an extremely convenient meansfor grasping the instrument with one hand and for operating the valvewith said hand to open the valve to create suction in the end of thenozzle 19 to pick up any article which may be desired and to maintainsuch suction until the article is recovered at which time pressure uponthe thumb piece l3 being removed the article is released from the nozzleI9, the slide valve retreating to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3with the stops M against the edge of the body after the article has beenrecovered.

I claim:

1. An article recovering implement for operation by suction andcomprising a fiat valve body with a hub projecting from one side thereofand a support projecting from its opposite side substantially inalignment with said hub, an opening extending through said hub, valvebody and support for the attachment of a nozzle, a valve plate mountedfor edgewise sliding movement within said body and having a hole adaptedto register with the opening through said body, a notch formed. in oneedge of said valve body and along which said valve plate extends, athumb piece projecting from one end of said valve and arranged to passinto said notch when the valve is opened, and a stop to limit themovement of said valve plate.

2. An article recovering implement for operation by means of suction andcomprisi a fi t valve body composed of two members, a hub projectingfrom one of said members on one side of the body for the attachment of arecovering nozzle and with a support projecting from the opposite sideof said body substantially in alignment with said hub, an openingextending through said hub, valve body and support, a valve slidewaylocated between said members, a valve plate slidably mounted Within saidslide- Way and having a hole adapted to register with the openingthrough the body, a notch formed in one edge of said valve body andalong which said valve plate extends, a thumb piece projecting from oneend of said valve plate and arranged to pass into said notch when thevalve plate is open, said plate extending through the body to theopposite edge thereof, and a stop on said oppositely projecting end ofthe valve plate to contact with said valve body to limit the position ofthe plate in its closed position.

3. An article recovering implement for operation by means of suction andcomprising a fiat valve body with a hub projecting from one side and asupport projecting from the opposite side substantially in alignmentwith said hub, an opening extending through said hub, valve body, andsupport, a nozzle adapted to fit within said opening in the hub, meansfor removably attaching the nozzle within said opening, a valve plateslidably mounted within said body and having a hole adapted to registerwith the opening through the body, a notch formed in one edge of saidvalve body and along which said valve plate extends, a thumb pieceprojecting from one end of said valve plate and arranged to pass intosaid notch when the valve plate is opened, a stop projecting from theopposite end of said valve to strike the edge of said body and limitclosing movement of said valve, a spring located between said thumbpiece and said support to force said valve to a closed position, andmeans extending from said support for attachment of an air hose thereto.

LESTER C. SMITH.

